INUVIK - The project to expand the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex's kitchen in order to attract more conferences to Inuvik is now going ahead.

Expanding the kitchen of the recreation complex was brought to town council last October and rejected.

Town of Inuvik senior administrative officer Tom Lie said a recent decision by council approved spending up to $100,000 on the project.

"The decision was made in March," said Lie.

"More planning for the project was needed before approval was given," said Mayor Derek Lindsay.

Lindsay said the original plan called for a full service kitchen to be installed in the centre, to increase the potential for hosting larger conferences and meetings.

The new project includes the installation of extra equipment to the canteen.

Lie said a new walk-in freezer and cooler would be installed in the kiosk.

"The area will be expanded, with the removal of two adjacent rooms," said Lie.

Lie added that a commercial dishwasher would also be installed, in the smaller kitchen located in the community hall.

Lie said that expanding the services of the kitchen would greatly improve what the complex can offer visiting guests.

"This will help the community by advancing Inuvik as a centre for meetings and conferences," said Lie.

"Our goal is to attract more conferences to Inuvik."

The total cost of the project is $558,000. The rest of the funding will come from the NWT department of Industry, Tourism and Investment and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.

ITI regional superintendent Roger Israel said his department's support for the project falls under the Tourism 2010 initiative.

Israel said the department added an additional $70,000 to their original contribution of $50,000.

"We wanted to further the theme of the conference centre," said Israel.

"We're looking for the southern conferences to come North. This will improve the facility to offer more services."

INAC's Manager of Aboriginal Economic Development Altaph Lakhani said the federal department has not changed its $408,000 commitment to the project.

"The funding was provided in 2006," he said.

"We committed that money to the project as a part of the last fiscal year."

Lakhani said even though the scope of the project has changed a bit, the goal is still the same.

"Preparing Inuvik for future conferences is important to the region," said Lakhani.

"We're pleased that Inuvik will be able to offer those improved services to people of the region."